Brave Soldier Challenge is a grueling test of strength, will

By Becky HopfSpecial to The Tuscaloosa News

Wednesday

Nov 28, 2012 at 12:01 AM

The Brave Soldier Challenge, a relatively new sporting event that targets the fittest, is coming to Tuscaloosa. It's a two-pronged timed test of skills for men and women that will be held March 16 at Central High School beginning at 9 a.m. The Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission is the official host, and it will benefit Tuscaloosa Park and Recreation Authority's Playgrounds for Tuscaloosa as well as the Wounded Warrior Project.

TUSCALOOSA | It is an event that requires feats of strength, agility, endurance and speed, where competitors quite literally overcome obstacles of all sorts.

The Brave Soldier Challenge, a relatively new sporting event that targets the fittest, is coming to Tuscaloosa. It's a two-pronged timed test of skills for men and women that will be held March 16 at Central High School beginning at 9 a.m. The Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission is the official host, and it will benefit Tuscaloosa Park and Recreation Authority's Playgrounds for Tuscaloosa as well as the Wounded Warrior Project.

“The novelty of it is that, although it's named ‘Brave Soldier,' it's not just for military to participate in,” said Don Staley, Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission executive director of sports. “When they called me about it, I jumped on it. I think this is an event where, even if you don't want to participate, it's a great event to watch because of the location and the great facilities at Central High School. There's bleacher seating. They‘ll open up concessions. It'll be a fun event to just come out and watch.”

According to the rules posted on the Brave Soldier Challenge website, competition begins with participants attaching a timing chip on their ankle. To begin, competitors first cross a set of mats containing timing devices that record the exact moment they begin each stage and the exact moment they finish.

Stage 1, which begins in waves of 25 participants, consists of a tire flip where competitors, moving as speedily as possible, flip a tractor tire a total of eight times — four times one way, four times returning. Miss a flip and it's a two-minute penalty. Penalties are also assessed for the number of times the tire is flipped when it exceeds eight.

From there participants hop on a stationary rowing machine — with a setting offering a good bit of resistance — for 1,500 meters. Then it's on to carrying two cement blocks, laterally, for 100 yards. After dropping off the cinder blocks, they'll lift 10 sandbags over a 6-foot wall. Then they'll grab two sand bags and race 100 yards. Stage 1 is capped by a 1-mile run.

Stage 2, which starts at 9:45 a.m., begins with a mile on a stationary bike followed by scaling a 6-foot wall. Heights are doubled, next, with a rope climb, twice, over a 12-foot-high rope. Boxes are the next obstacles. Competitors will jump a total of 10 boxes, each with heights varying from 12 inches, to 18 to 24. Both feet must hit the box simultaneously to complete each box jump. Then there's a 30-foot crawl under 2-foot-high beams followed by an over/under where competitors weave over and under obstacles. Next they'll jump over 4-foot high walls spanning 30 feet followed by crossing a 10-foot-long balance beam, twice, while carrying objects of differing weights in each hand. That leads to 30 feet of monkey bars, hanging upside down on a rope bridge then a cargo net climb over a 20-by-16-foot cargo net.

Staley expects the event will be an instant hit.

“They can take as many as 500 competitors, and we feel like we'll hit 500,” Staley said.

Cost to compete is $65 for adults and $35 for students. Competitors must be at least 16. Costs increase as the event draws closer. Competitors can register at http://bravesoldierchallenge.com and on Facebook.

“Some of these events, like Brave Soldier, are a little bit smaller in nature, but they are significant for the physical fitness enthusiasts in town,” Staley said. “We're hoping we can do a few of these and start increasing our profile so maybe it will lead to the bigger events.”

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